A visit to Brazil has been on my list forever. The beaches, the iconic landmarks, the joie de vivre, and of course, the drinks. Made in Brasil is the place to go in London, if you’re after a taste of Brazil in this way: its bar boasts 384 varieties of native Brazilian spirit, Cachaça, a key ingredient in the famed Caipirinha.
This year marks 20 years since Made in Brasil first opened its doors, a stone’s throw away from Camden Lock station. Amidst the famous Camden Market, this restaurant-bar cuts an equally colourful shape; I took a visit on a Saturday evening and here are my thoughts.
The drinks at Made in Brasil
Made in Brasil is home to the UK’s most extensive collection of Cachaça, the aforementioned spirit that, alongside brown sugar and lime, forms the basis of Brazil’s national cocktail, the Caipirinha. Of course, a classic Caipirinha is on the drinks menu; however, Made in Brasil has created a line of signature versions too. Fruity flavours include the likes of the Strawberry Caipirinha, the Acai Caipirinha, and the Banana Caipirinha, plus there are unique combos, such as the Chilli Raspberry Caipirinha and the Apple and Cinnamon Caipirinha.
I played it relatively safe with one of my favourite fruits, mango; the Mango Caipirinha was the right balance of sweet and strong, and I loved it. I also ventured elsewhere on their cocktail menu – hey, the bar is extensive here – trying the Caipirissima (with two Jamaican rums, it is strong enough to put hairs on your chest), and the sweet Matte Leao Ice Tea, which gave major holiday vibes.
The food
To soak up all the alcohol, Made in Brasil has a menu of Brazil’s best dishes. There is a main menu of starters, mains, and desserts, and a menu of Brazilian tapas. I mixed and matched the two menus on my visit, starting with Camarão Alho e Pimenta (garlic and chilli prawns), Bolinhos de Bacalhau (mini salt cod fish cakes), and plantain. The prawns were buttery, big, and juicy, while the salt cod fish cakes were moreish – all that was missing was a dipping sauce. The sweet, ripe plantain went with every dish perfectly; I’d never had it baked this way before, and it was fantastic.
As for my main dish, I opted for the Churrasco Misto, a smorgasbord of meat: Brazilian sausage, pork belly, and chicken, served with fried cassava wedges or rice. The dish also came with cassava flour, which our waiter explained we should dip our meat into, followed by the tomato coriander salsa, for a traditional Brazilian BBQ experience. The smell was alluring as the dishes came out, and the seasoning of the meat more than lived up to it too. The rice was very nice – perfectly light and fluffy – and the menus were well priced.
The atmosphere
As dusk draws in, the team dim the lights in the restaurant and the disco ball casts light throughout the venue. Music is a key element of Made in Brasil’s charm, and they have live music all weekend – starting on a Friday night. There is a live samba band every Friday from 10pm, live Latin DJs every Saturday from 10pm, and more live music on Sunday from 6pm. The rest of the time, a range of genres plays in the venue; I couldn’t help but shoulder dance as I ate and drank on my visit.
Made in Brasil is a great spot in Camden to get a taste of South America, whether you’re after a drink, dinner, or some live music. With decent prices, it won’t break the bank either, so if you’re after sunny sentiments mid week, you can pop in then too.